Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000109
Apply for DE FOA 0000109
- The Golden Field Office in the energy recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Geothermal TechnologiesProgram" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 27, 2009 and posted on May 27, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 22, 2009 In order for the Geothermal Technologies Program to meet programmatic goals. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $170,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Geothermal Technologies Program funding opportunity (FOA number DE-FOA-0000109) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) solicitation run through the Golden Field Office that makes federal Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) funding available for geothermal research, exploration, demonstration, and data efforts across the United States. DOE anticipated a total of about $170,000,000 for new awards and expected to make roughly 60 awards using either grants or cooperative agreements. Individual awards could be up to $5,000,000 (with no stated minimum award floor), and cost sharing is required. The technical focus is tied to federal geothermal priorities set in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA, sections 613 and 616) and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct, section 931(a)(2)(C)).
The FOA is organized into three separate topic areas, and applicants must pick one topic per application. DOE is explicit that a single application cannot cover multiple topic areas; proposals that try to span more than one topic will fail the initial review. At the same time, the same organization or principal investigator is allowed to submit multiple applications as long as each one is clearly aligned with a single topic and will be evaluated under that topic’s merit criteria. DOE also reserves the discretion to make one award, multiple awards, or no awards within any topic area depending on proposal quality and program needs.
Topic Area 1, “Validation of Innovative Exploration Technologies,†targets the early-stage risk problem in geothermal development. Under EISA section 613, DOE is looking for projects that validate new or improved methods for site characterization and/or drilling and exploration. The point is not just incremental research, but practical validation that helps locate undiscovered geothermal systems and improves the reliability of data used to rank and prioritize prospects for eventual energy production. In plain terms, DOE is trying to make the “where do we drill and why†phase less uncertain and less expensive by supporting field-relevant exploration innovations.
Topic Area 2, “Geothermal Energy Production from Low Temperature Resources, Coproduced Fluids from Oil and Gas Wells, and Geopressured Resources,†is aimed at showing that non-traditional geothermal sources can actually produce usable, economical energy. This topic draws on EISA section 616 (oil and gas field geothermal and geopressured resource recovery) and EPAct authority for low-temperature geothermal production. Projects under this area are meant to demonstrate technical and economic feasibility, which typically implies real-world pilot or demonstration style work that can prove performance, costs, and operating realities rather than only modeling or lab-scale studies.
Topic Area 3, “Geothermal Data Development, Collection, and Maintenance,†focuses on building out the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) so that geothermal data is broadly available and standardized nationwide. EPAct section 931(a)(2)(C) supports continued data submission to NGDS, and DOE’s stated goal here is to develop, collect, and maintain geothermal-related datasets for all 50 states. The practical purpose is to lower early development risk by making better data easier to find and use, which can shorten development timelines and improve decision-making for both public and private geothermal stakeholders.
Because this is Recovery Act funding, DOE emphasizes speed, job impacts, and near-term execution. The FOA notes that applications may receive greater consideration if they propose more aggressive completion schedules, create or retain more jobs, offer cost share above the required minimum, and demonstrate collaboration between industry and accredited educational institutions. Another cross-cutting requirement is data transparency: for all topic areas, applicants must commit in writing (with an authorized organizational representative concurring) that non-proprietary data collected during the project will be made publicly available through NGDS. DOE also requires reasonable access to the project site, reflecting the monitoring and oversight expectations typical of federally funded demonstration and field work.
Applications had to be submitted electronically through FedConnect (with an allowance that organizations using system-to-system Grants.gov submission could continue to submit that way and still be considered). The FOA was posted May 27, 2009, and the closing date was July 22, 2009 (with an archive date of September 27, 2009). The announcement repeatedly stresses that it is the applicant’s responsibility to verify successful transmission before the deadline. To submit via FedConnect, applicants needed a DUNS number and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) record (the predecessor to today’s SAM.gov registration), and first-time organizational setup in FedConnect could require the CCR MPIN. DOE advised applicants to allow at least 21 days to complete registrations if not already in place.
All official details, amendments, and the full Funding Opportunity Announcement were made available through FedConnect’s public search page by entering the reference/FOA number. Questions about the substance of the announcement were required to be submitted through the FedConnect portal so that DOE could post responses for all interested parties, while technical submission issues were routed to FedConnect support. The CFDA program listing associated with the opportunity is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
The Recovery Act Geothermal Technologies Program funding opportunity (FOA number DE-FOA-0000109) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) solicitation managed through the Golden Field Office. It makes federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) funding available for geothermal research, exploration, demonstration, and geothermal data efforts across the United States.
Which DOE office is running the solicitation?
The solicitation is run through DOE's Golden Field Office.
How much total funding did DOE anticipate for new awards?
DOE anticipated a total of about $170,000,000 for new awards under this FOA.
How many awards did DOE expect to make?
DOE expected to make roughly 60 awards.
What types of awards are expected under this FOA?
DOE expected to use either grants or cooperative agreements to make awards.
What is the maximum individual award size?
Individual awards could be up to $5,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor is stated in the provided information.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required for this opportunity.
What laws and federal priorities does this FOA align with?
The technical focus is tied to federal geothermal priorities set in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA, sections 613 and 616) and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct, section 931(a)(2)(C)).
How is the FOA structured?
The FOA is organized into three separate topic areas. Applicants must choose one topic area per application.
Can a single application cover multiple topic areas?
No. DOE is explicit that a single application cannot cover multiple topic areas. Proposals that attempt to span more than one topic area will fail the initial review.
Can the same organization or principal investigator submit more than one application?
Yes. The same organization or principal investigator may submit multiple applications, as long as each application is clearly aligned with a single topic area and will be evaluated under that topic's merit criteria.
Will DOE definitely make awards in every topic area?
Not necessarily. DOE reserves the discretion to make one award, multiple awards, or no awards within any topic area depending on proposal quality and program needs.
What is Topic Area 1 about?
Topic Area 1 is titled "Validation of Innovative Exploration Technologies." It targets early-stage risk in geothermal development by supporting projects that validate new or improved methods for site characterization and/or drilling and exploration. The goal is practical validation that improves the ability to locate undiscovered geothermal systems and increases the reliability of data used to rank and prioritize prospects for eventual energy production.
What federal authority is referenced for Topic Area 1?
Topic Area 1 is linked to EISA section 613.
What is Topic Area 2 about?
Topic Area 2 is titled "Geothermal Energy Production from Low Temperature Resources, Coproduced Fluids from Oil and Gas Wells, and Geopressured Resources." It focuses on demonstrating that non-traditional geothermal sources can produce usable, economical energy and is aimed at demonstrating technical and economic feasibility, typically through pilot or demonstration style work rather than only modeling or lab-scale studies.
What federal authorities are referenced for Topic Area 2?
Topic Area 2 draws on EISA section 616 (including oil and gas field geothermal and geopressured resource recovery) and EPAct authority for low-temperature geothermal production.
What is Topic Area 3 about?
Topic Area 3 is titled "Geothermal Data Development, Collection, and Maintenance." It focuses on building out the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) so geothermal data is broadly available and standardized nationwide, with a stated goal of developing, collecting, and maintaining geothermal-related datasets for all 50 states.
What federal authority is referenced for Topic Area 3?
Topic Area 3 references EPAct section 931(a)(2)(C), supporting continued data submission to the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS).
What is the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) in the context of this FOA?
NGDS is the national platform DOE references for making geothermal-related data broadly available and standardized nationwide. Under this FOA, it is central to the data transparency expectation and to Topic Area 3's focus on dataset development, collection, and maintenance.
Are there any cross-cutting data sharing requirements?
Yes. For all topic areas, applicants must commit in writing (with an authorized organizational representative concurring) that non-proprietary data collected during the project will be made publicly available through NGDS.
Does DOE require access to project sites?
Yes. DOE requires reasonable access to the project site, reflecting monitoring and oversight expectations typical of federally funded field and demonstration work.
Because this is Recovery Act funding, what does DOE emphasize?
DOE emphasizes speed, job impacts, and near-term execution.
What kinds of proposals may receive greater consideration under this FOA?
The FOA notes that applications may receive greater consideration if they propose more aggressive completion schedules, create or retain more jobs, offer cost share above the required minimum, and demonstrate collaboration between industry and accredited educational institutions.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through FedConnect, with an allowance that organizations using system-to-system Grants.gov submission could continue to submit that way and still be considered.
What were the key dates for this FOA?
The FOA was posted May 27, 2009. The closing date was July 22, 2009. The archive date was September 27, 2009.
Who is responsible for ensuring the application was successfully submitted?
The FOA repeatedly stresses that it is the applicant's responsibility to verify successful transmission before the deadline.
What registrations or identifiers were needed to submit via FedConnect?
To submit via FedConnect, applicants needed a DUNS number and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) record (the predecessor to today's SAM.gov registration). For first-time organizational setup in FedConnect, the CCR MPIN could be required.
How much lead time did DOE recommend for registrations?
DOE advised applicants to allow at least 21 days to complete registrations if not already in place.
Where could applicants find the official FOA details and any amendments?
Official details, amendments, and the full Funding Opportunity Announcement were made available through FedConnect's public search page by entering the reference/FOA number (DE-FOA-0000109).
How were questions about the substance of the FOA supposed to be submitted?
Questions about the substance of the announcement were required to be submitted through the FedConnect portal so DOE could post responses for all interested parties.
Where were technical submission issues supposed to be directed?
Technical submission issues were routed to FedConnect support.
What CFDA program listing is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA program listing associated with the opportunity is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
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